Glacierschool - Cayambe and Cotopaxi (8 days)

Our tour of 8 days is the perfect combination of acclimatization and glacier school at Mount Cayambe, where you'll have the possibility to learn the techniques of glacier climbing, energy-saving and movement efficiency in the mountains and last but not least falling and retarding techniques. And finally we also climb the most popular mountain of our country, the Cotopaxi volcano.

Day 1: Quito - Otavalo
Travel to Otavalo town to visit its colorful and famous Indian market where you will have lots of opportunities to get souvenirs to take home. Overnight at Ali Shungu hotel.

Day 2:  Otavalo - Cuicocha - La Esperanza
We'll leave Quito in the morning and drive to the Lagoon of Cuicocha, where we'll do some acclimatization hiking (approximately 4 and a half hours). Lunch at the lagoon and then we`ll continue to "La Esperanza", a picturesque mountain hostelry at the foot of the Imababura, where we'll spend the night. ( B )

Day 3:  La Esperanza - Imbabura Summit  4.630 - Otavalo
We'll start our hike at about 7 am and after a climb of 5 hours along the ridge we'll reach the summit. Descending will take us another 4 hours. Return to Otavalo. ( B - BL)

Day 4:  Otavalo - Cayambe Mountain Refuge
We'll leave Otavalo in the morning and head south until we'll reach the village Cayambe, from where we'll go on to the Ruales-Oleas-Berge Refuge (4600 m). The rest of the day we'll spend on the glacier training several techniques and skills, finally we will prepare the equipment for the ascent. (B - BL - D)

Day 5:  Refuge - Summit - Quito
Around midnight we'll get up and after 7 hours on the Cayambe Glacier we'll reach the summit. Going down will take another 4 hours. In the evening we'll be back in Quito. (B - BL)

Day 6:  Free day in Quito
This day we'll use to relax before starting the next ascent. (B)

Day 7:  Quito - Cotopaxi José Ribas Refuge
We'll leave Quito in the morning by car and after one and a half hours we'll get to the Cotopaxi National Park. We'll hike one more hour until we'll reach the Jose Ribas hut (4800 m). After doing some exercises in the glacier we'll have dinner and prepare the ascent. (B - BL - D)

Day 8:  Refuge - Cotopaxi Summit 5.897m - Quito
We'll get up at midnight and after 7 hours we'll reach the summit. After the descent we'll rest a bit in the refuge and then we'll return to Quito.

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Price:
1 Person: US$ 1695.--
2 or more people: US$ 1010.-- per person
Extra charge for single room accommodation USD 110

This tour is available as fixed departure tour: >> please check our fixed departures!

>> For group-prices please contact us!

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Our prices include:
- Transfer airport - hotel
- Private transportation to the whole tour.
- Professional instructor-guides ASEGUIM member (ratio 2 climbers - 1 guide in Cayambe and Cotopaxi)
- Accommodation in Hotels. ( Double accommodation & breakfast included)
- Accommodation in huts Casa Aida, Ruales-Oleas-Berge (Cayambe) and   José Ribas (Cotopaxi) 
- Meals on the mountains as mentioned above (B: Breakfast; BL: Box Lunch; D: Dinner),
- Cotopaxi National Park Entrance fee.

The prices do not include:
- General climbing and trekking equipment as boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, mattress, sleeping bag, sun glasses, head lamp, etc.
- Lunch and dinner while you stay in Otavalo, La Esperanza and Quito.
- Single room accommodation
- Extra drinks in huts
- Travel insurance
- Tips

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